Charging Times

Charging Times

How long to charge?

Pick your car. Pick your charger. We’ll do the maths.

Currently at 20%
Charge to 80%
Plug in at
26minutes
Charging time 29.5 kWh added 103 mi range ≈ £24.79
Plug in —
Done by —

A MINI Aceman SE charges from 20% to 80% on a Fast DC 150 kW in approximately 26 minutes.

My garage →

▶ Watch it charge — open the simulator

Last updated · Methodology below

The Science

Why fast charging slows down

Lithium-ion cells can drink hundreds of kilowatts when nearly empty — and only a trickle when nearly full. The battery management system tapers power to keep the cells cool and long-lived.

80% knee 0 kW peak 0% 50% 100%
Typical DC fast-charging curve. Power ramps up from a cold start, plateaus, then tapers above ~80% state of charge.

Plain English

Charging speeds explained

  • Three-pin plug — 2.3 kW

    ≈ 3 mi/hr

    A standard wall socket. Slowest possible. Fine for plug-in hybrids; an EV would need a day or two to fill from empty. Useful as a backup.

  • Home wallbox — 7–22 kW

    ≈ 25–80 mi/hr

    Home wallbox or public destination charger. The everyday default. A typical EV fills overnight — and that’s the secret of EV ownership.

  • Rapid DC — 50–150 kW

    ≈ 30–60 min to 80%

    Motorway services. A coffee, a sandwich, and you’re back on the road. Most modern EVs hit 150 kW+ comfortably.

  • Ultra-rapid — 250–350 kW

    ≈ 18–25 min to 80%

    Tesla Supercharger, Ionity, InstaVolt, Gridserve. Limited by the car as much as the cable — very few EVs can drink the full 350 kW.

The Database

Charging times by model

60 popular EVs, ranked by 10–80% charging time on a 150 kW DC fast charger. Tap a row to load it into the calculator.

Make & Model Battery Max DC 10–80% on 150 kW DC 0–100% on 7 kW home
Tesla Model 3 — RWD 57.5 kWh 170 kW 24 min 8.6 h
Tesla Model 3 — Long Range 75 kWh 250 kW 27 min 11.3 h
Tesla Model 3 — Performance 75 kWh 250 kW 27 min 11.3 h
Tesla Model Y — RWD (Juniper) 60 kWh 175 kW 24 min 9.0 h
Tesla Model Y — Long Range (Juniper) 75 kWh 250 kW 27 min 11.3 h
Tesla Model Y — Performance (Juniper) 75 kWh 250 kW 28 min 11.3 h
Hyundai Ioniq 5 — 84 kWh RWD 80 kWh 257 kW 26 min 12.0 h
Hyundai Ioniq 6 — 77 kWh RWD 74 kWh 233 kW 24 min 11.1 h
Hyundai Kona Electric — 65 kWh 64.8 kWh 102 kW 37 min 9.7 h
Hyundai Inster — Long Range 46 kWh 85 kW 29 min 6.9 h
Kia EV3 — Long Range 78 kWh 135 kW 33 min 11.7 h
Kia EV4 — Long Range 78 kWh 135 kW 33 min 11.7 h
Kia EV6 — 84 kWh RWD 80 kWh 258 kW 26 min 12.0 h
Kia EV9 — Long Range RWD 96 kWh 210 kW 32 min 14.4 h
Kia Niro EV — 64 kWh 64.8 kWh 80 kW 43 min 9.7 h
Ford Mustang Mach-E — ER RWD 91 kWh 150 kW 35 min 13.7 h
Ford Puma Gen-E — Premium 43.6 kWh 100 kW 23 min 6.5 h
Volkswagen ID.3 — Pro 59 kWh 59 kWh 165 kW 25 min 8.9 h
Volkswagen ID.4 — Pro 77 kWh 77 kWh 175 kW 28 min 11.6 h
Volkswagen ID.7 — Pro S 86 kWh 86 kWh 200 kW 28 min 12.9 h
Volkswagen ID.Buzz — LWB Pro 86 kWh 200 kW 30 min 12.9 h
BMW i4 — eDrive40 81 kWh 205 kW 31 min 12.2 h
BMW iX — xDrive60 109.1 kWh 195 kW 36 min 16.4 h
BMW i5 — eDrive40 81 kWh 205 kW 30 min 12.2 h
BMW iX3 — 50 xDrive (Neue Klasse) 108.7 kWh 400 kW 36 min 16.3 h
MINI Cooper Electric — E 36.6 kWh 75 kW 28 min 5.5 h
MINI Cooper Electric — SE 49.2 kWh 95 kW 30 min 7.4 h
MINI Aceman — E 38.5 kWh 75 kW 28 min 5.8 h
MINI Aceman — SE 49.2 kWh 95 kW 30 min 7.4 h
MINI Countryman — E 64.7 kWh 130 kW 29 min 9.7 h
MINI Countryman — SE ALL4 64.7 kWh 130 kW 33 min 9.7 h
Mercedes EQE — 350+ (96 kWh) 96 kWh 170 kW 32 min 14.4 h
Mercedes EQS — 450+ (118 kWh) 118 kWh 200 kW 39 min 17.7 h
Mercedes CLA — 250+ with EQ Technology 85 kWh 320 kW 28 min 12.8 h
Audi Q4 e-tron — 45 e-tron 77 kWh 175 kW 28 min 11.6 h
Audi Q6 e-tron — performance 94.9 kWh 270 kW 31 min 14.2 h
Audi e-tron GT — quattro (facelift) 97 kWh 320 kW 32 min 14.6 h
Porsche Taycan — Performance Battery Plus 97 kWh 320 kW 32 min 14.6 h
Porsche Macan — 4 Electric 95 kWh 270 kW 31 min 14.3 h
Polestar 2 — Long Range 79 kWh 205 kW 32 min 11.9 h
Polestar 3 — Long Range 107 kWh 250 kW 35 min 16.1 h
Polestar 4 — Long Range 94 kWh 200 kW 31 min 14.1 h
Volvo EX30 — ER RWD 64 kWh 153 kW 28 min 9.6 h
Volvo EX90 — Twin Motor 107 kWh 250 kW 35 min 16.1 h
Nissan Leaf — 75 kWh (3rd gen) 75 kWh 150 kW 32 min 11.3 h
Nissan Ariya — 87 kWh 87 kWh 130 kW 48 min 13.1 h
Renault 5 E-Tech — 52 kWh 52 kWh 100 kW 31 min 7.8 h
Renault 4 E-Tech — 52 kWh 52 kWh 100 kW 31 min 7.8 h
Renault Megane E-Tech — EV60 60 kWh 130 kW 33 min 9.0 h
MG MG4 — Premium Long Range 61.7 kWh 154 kW 25 min 10.4 h
BYD Atto 3 — 60 kWh 60.5 kWh 88 kW 35 min 9.1 h
BYD Seal — Design 82.5 kWh 150 kW 36 min 12.4 h
BYD Sealion 7 — RWD Comfort 82.5 kWh 150 kW 32 min 12.4 h
BYD Dolphin Surf — 43.2 kWh Boost 43.2 kWh 85 kW 32 min 6.5 h
Škoda Enyaq — 85 77 kWh 135 kW 28 min 11.6 h
Škoda Elroq — 85 77 kWh 175 kW 28 min 11.6 h
Citroën ë-C3 — 44 kWh 43.8 kWh 100 kW 31 min 6.6 h
Vauxhall Frontera Electric — 44 kWh 43.8 kWh 100 kW 31 min 6.6 h
Peugeot e-3008 — 73 kWh 73 kWh 160 kW 36 min 11.0 h
Cupra Born — 59 kWh 59 kWh 165 kW 24 min 8.9 h

How we calculate

The formula, in the open

Charging time is energy needed divided by effective power. We use the same model whether the charger is 2.3 kW in your kitchen or 350 kW on a motorway forecourt.

time_hours = (battery_kWh × (target_pct − current_pct) ÷ 100) ÷ effective_kW

AC charging (home / destination)

effective_kW = min(charger_kW, ev_AC_max_kW) × 0.9 — the 0.9 factor accounts for losses in the charger and the car’s onboard rectifier.

DC fast charging

DC charging is piecewise, and a peak number alone flatters cars that only hold it briefly. Below 80% state of charge we use the lower of two figures: 85% of the charger-limited peak, and the car’s measured 10–80% average charging power (avg_dc_kW), taken from published charging-curve tests. Above 80% the battery management system tapers aggressively to protect the cells, averaging roughly 30% of peak.

  • 0–80%: effective_kW = min(min(charger_kW, ev_DC_max_kW) × 0.85, avg_dc_kW)
  • 80–100%: effective_kW = min(charger_kW, ev_DC_max_kW) × 0.30

Real-world variation comes from battery temperature, state of health, charger backend, and whether the car is preconditioned. We model the typical, warm, healthy case.

Cost estimates

Estimated session cost is billed energy × a typical rate for your region. Billed energy is slightly more than the energy stored: we divide by 0.90 for AC (onboard-charger losses) and 0.94 for DC. Typical UK prices (August 2026): Ofgem-capped home rate ~26p/kWh, EV off-peak tariffs ~7p/kWh, ultra-rapid networks 79–92p/kWh. Your tariff will differ — treat the number as a guide.

Sources

Battery capacities and maximum charging power are taken from manufacturer technical specifications, cross-referenced against published independent charging-curve measurements (P3 Charging Index, Fastned charging logs, EV Database). Last verified .

Common Questions

Frequently asked

How long does it take to fully charge an electric car?

On a 7 kW home wallbox a typical 75 kWh EV takes about 11 hours from empty. On a 150 kW DC fast charger the same car reaches 80% in roughly 30 minutes. Plug it in overnight and the question stops mattering.

Why does charging slow down after 80%?

To protect lithium-ion cells from heat and chemical degradation, the battery management system tapers charging power as the cells fill. Power can drop to a quarter of peak between 80% and 100%, which is why EV trip planning targets 10–80% on the road.

What is the difference between AC and DC charging?

AC charging uses your car’s onboard charger to convert household alternating current to DC for the battery; this caps speed at 7–22 kW for most cars. DC fast charging bypasses the onboard charger entirely and feeds DC straight to the battery at 50–350 kW.

Does cold weather affect charging time?

Yes. A cold battery accepts less power because lithium ions move more sluggishly. Most modern EVs precondition the pack en route to a fast charger, warming the cells to restore full speed by the time you plug in.

Is it bad to charge an EV to 100%?

For day-to-day driving most manufacturers recommend an 80% ceiling on lithium-ion (NCM/NCA) chemistries, and 100% on LFP. Charge to 100% before a long trip and use the full range that day rather than letting it sit at 100% for weeks.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Depends almost entirely on where you plug in. For a typical 75 kWh EV going from 10% to 80%: about £15.17 at home on a standard tariff, £4.08 on an EV off-peak tariff, or £47.47 at an ultra-rapid charger. The calculator above shows an estimated cost for every result. Typical UK prices (August 2026): Ofgem-capped home rate ~26p/kWh, EV off-peak tariffs ~7p/kWh, ultra-rapid networks 79–92p/kWh.

Can I use this calculator offline?

Yes — once the page has loaded, all calculations happen in your browser. There is also a simple JSON API at /api/charging-time for developers and AI tools.

Where do the EV specs come from?

Manufacturer technical specifications, cross-referenced with independent charging-curve measurements. See the methodology section above for sources and the formula in the open.

How accurate is the answer?

Within roughly ±10% for a warm, healthy battery on a working charger. Cold packs, busy charger sites, and degraded batteries can extend times. We model the typical good-conditions case so the number is honest, not optimistic.